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Prices Of Cars Used By World Leaders, Including Buhari’s Mercedes-Maybach, Vs. Their Country’s Bestselling Cars
Price of armoured state cars used by world leaders, including Buhari’s Mercedes-Maybach S560, compared to price of their country’s bestselling new cars.
The official state cars that ferries some of the most powerful world leaders (and figureheads) mostly serves as an automotive symbol of their country.
Part of the criteria for an official state car is to have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty — since they are being watched and followed by millions of people.
These luxurious “Bunkers” are impenetrable by bullets and bombs as they are mostly designed from the ground up by the Secret Service to help defeat any assault thrown at them.
With their luxury features, thicker layers of armour, and other life saving features, each of these presidential state cars cost a fortune to build.
Here’s how the price of armoured cars from world leaders (and figureheads) compares to the price of their country’s bestselling new cars.
1) Bentley State Limousine
The armoured Bentley State Limousine is the official state car created by Bentley for Queen Elizabeth II for her Golden Jubilee Anniversary in 2002.
Only two Bentley State Limousine were ever built and is valued at 10 million GBP ($13.1m) each.
The Ford Fiesta is one of UK’s best-selling model with a starting price of about $22,500. It’s 582 times cheaper than the Armoured Bentley State Limousine.
2) United States Beast Limo
The official vehicle of the president of the United States is the popular armoured “Cadillac One”, also known as the “the Beast”.
Each of the 12 cars in the presidential fleet cost around $1.5 million to build.
In comparison, the bestselling car in US in 2019, Ford F-Series, starts at starts at $30,635. It’s about 49 times cheaper than Donald Trump’s Beast.
3) Aurus Senat L700 limousine
Vladimir Putin’s Russian-made Aurus Senat limousine is the fruit from the collaboration between NAMI and Porsche/Bosch. The Rolls-Royce look alike has an estimated cost of around $600,000.
Russia’s most popular car Lada Granta starts at around $5400. It’s about 111 times cheaper than Putin’s Aurus Senat limo.
Lada Granta
4) North Korea’s Armoured Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard
The North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s reportedly owns more than 100 luxury cars, but his favourite his the armoured Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard worth $1.5 million dollars.
In comparison, Pyeonghwa Motors Pronto GS are priced at $10,000 to $30,000. Pyeonghwa Pronto GS is about 150 times cheaper than Kim’s Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard.
5) Jaguar XJ Sentinel
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom uses a customised armoured Jaguar XJ Sentinel sedan with an estimated cost of $450,000.
The Ford Fiesta is one of UK’s best-selling model with a starting price of about $22,500. It’s 20 times cheaper than the armoured Jaguar XJ Sentinel sedan.
6) Germany’s Audi A8 L Security
German Chancellor Angela Merkel alternate between armoured brands from Mercedes, Audi, BMW and VW to project neutrality and support for the German car industry in general. She has been spotted traveling in the Audi A8 L Security worth $750,000.
The Golf, the best selling car in Germany, starts at roughly $24,000, making it almost 31 times cheaper than the Audi A8 L Security.
7) Hongqi N501
Chinese President Xi Jinping rides in 18-feet long armoured Hongqi Hongqi N501 limousine. The Hongqi N501, which replaces the restomod-looking L5, has an estimated cost of $1.5 million.
Last year, the best-selling car in China was a German Volkswagen Lavida with a base price of $17,000. The Lavida is about 88 times cheaper than Hongqi N501 limo.
Volkswagen Lavida
8) Nigeria’s customised armoured Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari uses a customised armoured Mercedes-Maybach S560 as an official state car. The ultra-luxury sedan has an estimated price of N120 million.
In comparison, Nigeria’s bestselling car, the Toyota Corolla, has a base price of N18 million. It is about 7 times cheaper than Buhari’s Mercedes-Maybach S560.
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See Also : World Leaders Armoured Presidential State Cars That Malfunctioned During Foreign Trips (Photos)
